Om Prakash Meena Appointed as India's New Ambassador to Burkina Faso
Om Prakash Meena, the former Deputy Secretary for Central and Western Africa, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Burkina Faso, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA's statement confirmed his appointment and mentioned that he is expected to assume his new role soon.
India and Burkina Faso share cordial bilateral relations. As a small country, Burkina Faso looks positively at our friendship and treatment as an important friend. The Embassy of Burkina Faso was opened in New Delhi in 1996 and elevated to the level of ambassador in 2011. India maintained its embassy in Ouagadougou from November 1996 until its closure in July 2002. Given the cordial relations, India reopened its embassy in March 2019 with the posting of an ambassador.
Bilateral cooperation between India and Burkina Faso began in March 1976 when an official delegation, led by Burkina Faso's Minister of Commerce and Industry, visited India and signed a protocol on economic and technical cooperation. Since then, several high-level visits have taken place between the two countries. Burkina Faso also participated in the India-Africa Partnership Conclave in New Delhi in March 2008 and was the partner country at the CII Conclave held in March 2009.
Bilateral trade between India and Burkina Faso had shown steady growth from 2015-16 to 2021-22 (peaking in 2018-19), with the balance of trade favouring Burkina Faso (ref: table below). The complement of goods imported by India included gold, cashew nuts, and soya beans, while those exported by India comprised pharmaceutical products, goods vehicles and parts, motorcycles and parts, machinery, mechanical appliances, rubber, and cotton fabric, among others.
Bilateral relations got a boost in May-June 1993 when President Blaise Compaore visited India. During this visit, both countries decided to establish the Joint Commission to foster cooperation between the two countries. The Joint Commission on Economic, cultural, political, and technical cooperation was established after an agreement was signed in October 1994.
The Indian community in Burkina Faso is estimated to number around 500, with some involved in manufacturing, trading, and business, while others work as their employees.